Bass Clef

The bass clef is the symbol at the start of the lower staff. Its two dots sit either side of the fourth line up, fixing that line as F below middle C — hence its other name, the F clef.

The left hand mostly plays below middle C, and writing those pitches in treble clef would need a forest of ledger lines. The bass clef moves the whole staff down so the notes land back on it.

How To Spot Bass Clef

Play the Bass Clef (Notation Glossary)

Tap the highlighted keys — any order.

F
The bass clef is the symbol at the start of the lower staff. Its two dots sit either side of the fourth line up, fixing that line as F below middle C — hence it

It is the backwards C with two dots, at the left-hand end of the lower staff. The two dots straddle the F line.

Find It In Thirty Seconds

Find the bass clef's two dots on any piece and name the line between them: F. Then count down to the bottom line: G.

Open any piece of sheet music on this site and do it now. Reading is a recognition skill, and recognition is built by finding things, not by reading about them.

Related Topics...

  • How to Read Sheet Music: Learn how to read sheet music using interactive lessons from Chordzy. Or browse our various reading music topics.

  • Music Notation Glossary: Every symbol on a page of piano music, explained in one sentence each — clefs, note values, rests, accidentals, dynamics and repeat marks.

  • Grand Staff: The grand staff is the pair of staves piano music is written on: treble clef on top for the right hand, bass clef underneath for the left, joined by a brace.

  • Ledger Lines: Ledger lines are the short lines added above or below a staff to carry notes that are too high or too low to fit on it. Each one continues the pattern of lines…

  • Middle C: Middle C is the C nearest the middle of the piano, and the note that sits on its own little ledger line between the two staves of piano music.

  • Treble Clef: The treble clef is the curled symbol at the start of the upper staff. It fixes the second line from the bottom as G above middle C, which is why it is also cal…

More in This Section

  • Chord Symbol: A chord symbol is the letter name printed above the staff — C, Am, G7 — naming the harmony so you can play it your own way rather than note for note.

  • Coda: A coda is the ending section of a piece, marked with a circle-and-cross symbol. You jump to it from a To Coda mark after taking a D.C. or D.S. repeat.

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